The Globalization and Business Performance of Corporate Value Chain

Purpose - This paper empirically investigates the relationship between the corporate value chain and performance of non- financial businesses of South Korean stock market companies. It aims to explore the evidence that can be used to infer the relationship between value chains and corporate performance in the case of firms forming a value chain with other companies with the means of an equity investment or a special business relationship. Design/methodology - Non-financial corporations listed from 2011 to 2017 on the securities market of South Korea are analyzed. The data used for analysis are found for transactions with the related party by year for all the corporations of non-financial industries in the securities market. Multiple analysis attempts are conducted including the relationship between the value chain and productivity, corporate value, risk-adjusted corporate value, and mediation effects of productivity. The empirical model employs sixteen variables including the value chain index which identifies its impact on various aspects of business performances. Findings - The results of this study clearly supports the phenomenon that corporate productivity and value are enhanced when the corporation expands its value chain established with domestic related firms and overseas companies. Such a positive effect is statistically significant even after the possible risk factors that accompany the expansion of value chain were considered, and productivity plays the role as a medicating variable in the effect of the value chain on the corporation values. Originality/value - The findings of this study confirms that domestic companies’ expansion of their value chain centered on the related firms overseas that helped them in terms of the maximization of their productivity and corporate values. This study shows that Korean government’s policy on expanding the corporate GVC can enhance the productivity and value of firms. The expansion of value chain and its impact on business performance has not been explored thoroughly, although it is getting more and more important in the global trade operation.